Hew Jersey 



Ttiere is little eelgrass along the New Jersey coast. The rivers 

 north of Barnegat Bay, notaoly the Slirewsbiiry, Shark, and Nave sink, which 

 formerly sapported heavy' growths of the plant, are now practically, "barren. 



In Barnegat Bay, extensive reconnaissance revealed an insignificant 

 stand of eelgrass. Slight drift on the hay shores south of Island Heights 

 was traced to fairly large beds on the Island Beach flats south of Toms 

 River. The plants there were largely mixed with Buppia , pure stands being 

 found in only a few localities in May. Since that time the beds have been 

 blasted by disease. The rhizomes are spindling and entire small beds have 

 been destroyed. The slight growth that a few viable root stocks are putting 

 out is so weak and thin that it resembles the type of eelgrass usually 

 found in Chesapeake Bay and other saathern waters. This bed of eelgrass, 

 which was the best growth fou.nd along the New Jersey coast, is barely 

 sustaining itself, and its condition at the present time cannot be con- 

 sidered very encouraging. In December a moderate quantity of drift was 

 noted at one point about 10 miles south of Toms River, which may have come 

 from some more vigorous bed of eelgrass in Barnegat Bay. 



A few scattered living plants were seen on the outer beach near 

 Lovelady, north of Beach Haven, and occasional drift leaves were observed 

 on the west side of Little Egg Harbor opposite Beach Haven. Small growths 

 of eelgrass have been reported from the latter place also in the past two 

 years. 



Two aerial surveys and nujnerous ground observations of the coast 

 • south of Barnegat Bay to Cape May failed to reveal any trace of Zostera , 

 but one report of the plant occurring in Lakes Bay was received. Eelgrass 

 was formerly abundant in much of this area. 



Delmarva peninsu.la 



Insufficient investigations have been made along the coast of the 

 Delmarva Peninsula to warrant a definite report. Erom the data available, 

 however, it would seem fairly safe to say that there is practically no 

 eelgrass north of the Maryland- Delaware State line and only an insignifi- 

 cant growth in the numerous coves and bays south of that point. A brief 

 inspection of Sinepuxent Bay in May disclosed no beds of Zostera although 

 a few drifting Iqaf blades were noted. Eishermen at that time .and again 

 early in December, however, reported a few small patches of the plant 

 there, and in November and December it was said that a similar condition 

 existed in Chincoteague Bay. Recently an observer is reported to have 

 found a few plants near Popes Island. An incomplete inspection of the 

 area by Lynch in November failed to disclose a single sign of Zostera on 

 the Atlantic side of the Eastern Shore from Paramores Island southward to 

 Cape Charles. No recent evidence of any return of the plant either in 

 Isle of Wight or Assawoman Bays has been observed, although a detailed 

 investigation has not been made. Most of the entire area was formerly 

 covered with a dense growth of the plant. Since the abrupt wasting away 

 of the eelgrass and the removal of- the vegetative covering, wave erosion 

 has been pronounced. Many areas have been sanded over and new channels 

 have been formed. Eortunately for waterfowl and fish, as well as for 



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